Abstract: A pre-fiber composition is disclosed herein that includes: a) a first fiber constituent having a first melting point; b) a second fiber constituent having a second melting point; and c) a gelling agent that solvates at least one of the first fiber constituent or the second fiber constituent, wherein the gelling agent significantly reduces co-polymerization of either of the constituents in the composition. A fiber is also disclosed herein that includes: a) at least two amide-based polymers, each having a melting point, wherein the melting point of one amide-based polymer is dissimilar to the melting point of a second amide-based polymer; and b) a gelling agent that is compatible with at least one of the amide-based polymers, wherein the fiber comprises two differentiatable melting points that are substantially similar to the melting points of each of the amide-based polymers.

Abstract: A plied carpet fiber material is disclosed herein that includes at least one nontextured fiber component plied with at least one additional fiber component to form the plied carpet fiber material, wherein each nontextured fiber component comprises a luster component. Plied carpet fiber materials are also disclosed herein that include: a) at least one nontextured fiber component, wherein each nontextured fiber component comprises a luster component, and b) at least one textured fiber component, wherein each textured fiber component comprises a luster component, wherein the at least one nontextured fiber component and the at least one textured fiber component are plied with one another to produce the plied carpet fiber material.

Abstract: A pre-fiber composition is disclosed herein that includes: a) a first fiber constituent having a first melting point; b) a second fiber constituent having a second melting point; and c) a gelling agent that solvates at least one of the first fiber constituent or the second fiber constituent, wherein the gelling agent significantly reduces co-polymerization of either of the constituents in the composition. A fiber is also disclosed herein that includes: a) at least two amide-based polymers, each having a melting point, wherein the melting point of one amide-based polymer is dissimilar to the melting point of a second amide-based polymer; and b) a gelling agent that is compatible with at least one of the amide-based polymers, wherein the fiber comprises two differentiatable melting points that are substantially similar to the melting points of each of the amide-based polymers.

Abstract: An optical device comprising a polymer comprising at least one repeating unit derived from a compound of the following formula:

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions to impart coffee stain resistance to polyamide textile substrates such as carpets. The compositions comprise either (i) a copolymer selected from the group consisting of a hydrolyzed aromatic-containing vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymer, a half ester of an aromatic-containing vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymer, and mixtures thereof, or (ii) an aromatic-containing acrylate copolymerized with an acid selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and maleic acid. The coffee stain-resistant polyamide textile substrates made are also part of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions to impart coffee stain resistance to polyamide textile substrates such as carpets. The compositions comprise either (i) a copolymer selected from the group consisting of a hydrolyzed aromatic-containing vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymer, a half ester of an aromatic-containing vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymer, and mixtures thereof, or (ii) an aromatic-containing acrylate copolymerized with an acid selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and maleic acid. The coffee stain-resistant polyamide textile substrates made are also part of the invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods and compositions to enhance stain resistance of carpet fiber. The improved methods relate to a continuous aftertreatment for dyed carpet fabric and to two-step processes, either batch-batch, batch-continuous or continuous-continuous. The improved compositions are used in the processes to enhance stain resistance of carpet or carpet fiber and to overcome various prior drawbacks, such as, yellowing, oxidation and durability to cleaning. The sulfonated aromatic condensates are used to enhance stain resistance, and can be combined with fluorocarbon compounds for soil resistance, thiocyanates, and/or salts having divalent cations, such as magnesium sulfate. Also various dispersing agents, buffering acids and sequestering agents are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods and compositions to enhance stain resistance of carpet fiber. The improved methods relate to a continuous aftertreatment for dyed carpet fabric and to two-step processes, either batch-batch, batch-continuous or continuous-continuous. The improved compositions are used in the processes to enhance stain resistance of carpet or carpet fiber and to overcome various prior drawbacks, such as, yellowing, oxidation and durability to cleaning. The sulfonated aromatic condensates are used to enhance stain resistance, and can be combined with fluorocarbon compounds for soil resistance, thiocyanates, and/or salts having divalent cations, such as magnesium sulfate. Also various dispersing agents, buffering acids and sequestering agents are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods and compositions to enhance stain resistance of carpet fiber. The improved methods relate to a continuous aftertreatment for dyed carpet fabric and to two-step processes, either batch-batch, batch-continuous or continuous-continuous. The improved compositions are used in the processes to enhance stain resistance of carpet or carpet fiber and to overcome various prior drawbacks, such as, yellowing, oxidation and durability to cleaning. The sulfonated aromatic condensates are used to enhance stain resistance, and can be combined with fluorocarbon compounds for soil resistance, thiocyanates, and/or salts having divalent cations, such as magnesium sulfate. Also various dispersing agents, buffering acids and sequestering agents are disclosed.

Abstract: A method to impart coffee stain resistance to polyamide fibers such as those found in textile substrates (e.g., carpets). The method includes preparing an aqueous dispersion of charged microfine beads of either (i) a copolymer selected from the group consisting of a hydrolyzed aromatic-containing vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymer, a half ester of an aromatic-containing vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymer, and mixtures thereof, or (ii) an aromatic-containing acrylate copolymerized with an acid selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and maleic acid, immersing the polyamide fiber in the aqueous dispersion so that the beads contact and coat the fiber via an electrostatic attraction. The aqueous dispersion is prepared by dissolving the polymer into a water-soluble solvent to form a solution, injecting the solution into water, and evaporating the solvent.

Abstract: In a continuous application process with post-steaming, SAC's having molecular size (hydrodynamic volume) defined by elution volume (Ve) determined by Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) of between 6.3 and 6.5 ml. using the procedure described, are such that they are not too small so that migration into the fiber occurs (reduces ring dyeing effect) nor are they too large such that they require extremely long steaming times or the use of swelling agents to be effective. This is independent of the degree of sulfonation of the SAC.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions to impart coffee stain resistance to polyamide textile substrate such as carpets. The compositions comprise either (i) a copolymer selected from the group consisting of a hydrolyzed aromatic-containing vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymer, a half ester of an aromatic-containing vinyl ether maleic anhydride copolymer, and mixtures thereof, or (ii) an aromatic-containing acrylate copolymerized with an acid selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and maleic acid. The coffee stain-resistant polyamide textile substrates made are also part of the invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods and compositions to enhance stain resistance of carpet fiber. The improved methods relate to a continuous aftertreatment for dyed carpet fabric and to two-step processes, either batch-batch, batch-continuous or continuous-continuous. The improved compositions are used in the processes to enhance stain resistance of carpet or carpet fiber and to overcome various prior drawbacks, such as, yellowing, oxidation and durability to cleaning. The sulfonated aromatic condensates are used to enhance stain resistance, and can be combined with fluorocarbon compounds for soil resistance, thiocyanates, and/or salts having divalent cations, such as magnesium sulfate. Also various dispersing agents, buffering acids and sequestering agents are disclosed.